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| 3.30.2006 |
| Eagle's Flight |
"I shall do what I must" - Qui-Gon Jinn
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.
They will fly high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
As I write this Tom is several thousand feet in the sky possibly looking down into the clouds out of his window in deep thought. Anticipating what is to come, aware of the present and replaying memories of days past. He's off to Iraq.
Last sunday our pastor referenced Isaiah 40:31. Saying God likens us to the eagles. Meant to soar effortlessly and majestic.
This is my prayer for you C. May you continue to wait on God and His strength to carry you through these next 6 months. You will be in my thoughts constantly.
God's speed my brother.
I Love You. |
posted by G. @ 9:47 PM   |
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| K-MAX ROCKS THE ROCK |
"Impressive. Most impressive." - Darth Vader
Kmax came to Sticky Fingerz Rock-N-Roll Chicken Shack this past Wednesday. It was an awesome show. Full band. LOUD! I know what you're thinking. What is a Rock-n-Roll Chicken Shack and who has the Sticky Fingerz? I had no idea myself till I was checking on kevinmax.com as I do regularly and discovered he'd be performing in Little Rock. So I checked it out. It's very house of blues'ish. Got some New Orleans flava as well. Cool place here's the website. Check it out sometime.
Anyway, back to the show. The opening act started at 8:30, solo guitarist Brennen Strawn. He's currently touring with Kmax as they're both on Northern Records. This guy was a great performer. Jenn and I both loved his sound. Very haunting and thought provoking lyrics. Jenn said he had a great falsetto. Did I spell that right? She's correct, dudes got a great vocal range. I can see why he's touring with Kmax. Both are extremely creative, poetic & unique. Of course, watching him play the guitar is a whole'nother issue. Dude kept hiking his left leg while performing. (yep hike, like a dog and a tree) He was really getting into the music like a schizophranic crack addict trying to vouge. I think that describes it. But dude could sing! I looked him up on Northern's website and couldn't find him. Then I spotted a pic of him in a band on Northern called Monarch. That was him. He's the lead singer and guitarist. Well, I'm getting dude's album. Done.
The next band that performed was a local group called Outerbanks. They were good as well, but nowhere near the level of Kmax & the spastic Brennen Strawn. They did put on a great show, however. I know these guys can rock, the guitarist was playing Rush "Tom Sawyer" riffs for soundcheck. Oh yeah! Gimme some RUSH!
Anywho, when they were finished they started getting the stage ready for Kevin Max. After some internal debate (that's an important part of this story) I decided that I needed to go ahead and do my business before they started so I wouldn't miss anything. So up I go to the men's room located just left of the stage. As I started to push open the door my Jedi power kicked in and it opened itself. Being slightly off balance from the sudden Jedi power boost (most have been the sticky fingerz bacon fries) I leaned in a little more than I was ready to and came really close to head butting Kmax! Yep. Seems as if he had had the same conversation with himself and decided to take care of business before performing. Good call Kev. After politely exchanging the masculine head nood (you know where you nood your head up quickly) we parted company and I went to finish. At that point I was glad that I waited to go. Not sure if I wanted the image of my favorite singer/performer standing over the urinal in my head. Nope. I mean the rest room didn't even have the dividers...come on. Give a guy some privacy! Install the dividers. Anyway. As I'm washing my hands I hear the crowd going crazy. (he really did wait till the last minute) Kmax is thanking everyone and I'm looking for a towel. No towels! First no dividers and now no towels! The air thing didn't work either. Man. Love the food - love the music - not so happy with the restroom. So I use my pants/shirt and go sit back down.
The show was incredible here's the set-list.
(at least that's as I can remeber)
Confessional Booth
The Imposter
Sanctuary
Seek
What If I Stumble
{Poetry Reading} always a favorite of mine
I Need You/The End
The Royal Path of Life
Jumpstart Your Electric Heart
{a song from the band "YOUTH"}
21st Century Darlings
Brennen strawn came back out and played guitar for Kevin as well as provided backing vocals. Honestly I think I had just as much fun watching him perform as I did Kmax. He was all over the stage, constantly jerking his head backwards "who's behind me!" hiking his leg, and just getting crazy with the guitar. Question. If someone was having a seizure, would you give them a blunt object? NO! They'll wack you relentlessly with it. I think that thought may have crossed Kevin's mind a couple of times. He nearly got clipped at least 3 times. Once he literally threw his hands up in self defence as he dodged a blow. Brennen definately gets lost in his music.
So the show was great and I'm glad my wife was able to go with me. We had a great time. Thanks babe, it wouln't have been as fun without you. (+5 points for sweet comment) We get up and head to the front where Kmax is just hanging out and chatting, signing things and what not. I get a t-shirt, a very cool looking tee at that, and a photo to get signed. I get to him and we just talk for a minute. Man that was great. This guy knows who his fans are and really appreciates them. You rock Kmax! That pic is going on my wall in my new office at work. Along with the autographed CD from the last concert.
Of course I didn't think to bring a camera so I've got no pics to share. Bummer. I'm hoping to get some pics from another group that was there. If I do I'll post them. Until then here's some Kmax wallpapers I did a couple of years ago.
Also, for those of you unfamiliar with Kevin Max's music (his tunes are streamed on his website) here's some lyrics from a couple of his songs. He's a very good writer, his lyrics can stand with or without music. If you read it and go..."huh? I didn't get that." That's the point. You're not supposed to just be able to capture the meaning with just one read or listen. It's deeper than that. Not the shallowness that so fills the airwaves today. Sorry if I sound all 'deep & philisophical' on you. Can't help it. I get that way when I listen to this guy. That's why I like him. He challenges you.
Sanctuary
I tried everything to find you
I even took the stairway to hell
I wrote these words down to remind you
that I know life is never pass or fail
so hand me the keys to your kingdom
give me back my garden of Eden
lead me to a place that I can call my own
a home
a sanctuary
home
and we are standing on the edge of it
trying to make some sense of it all
the fear is building and the hatred
until you know we're left with nothing left at all
you know i'm falling
so hand me the code to your gates of knowledge
teach me the truth I never learned in college
lead me through the valley, let me find a place called
home
a sanctuary
home
and it's the archeticture of peace
and it's the streets that lead to release
and it's the hallways and doorways of hope
and its a place that we call
home
(home-I tried everything to find you
home- I lost everything to find you)
the military Is leading tours through town
a couple more weeks and the walls come down
I don't care if its East or West
I just need to get some rest, I'm
home
and it's the archeticture of peace
and it's the streets the lead to release
and it's the hallways and doorways of hope
and it's a place that we call home
sha la, sha lalala sha la
sha la lalalala sha la sha lalala la la
home.
Dead End Moon
As the sand shifts cool beneath your feet
By the light of a dead end moon
Your haunted fingers on my skin so sweet
Your hair like darkest loom
Like a cherub left to gather moss
Like a ship without its sail that's tossed
Like a vassal to his kingdom lost
My soul so pale
Oh my lonely heart
Oh my soulless girl
Will you ever let me go
I don't wanna cry no more
And here I wander aimless
I just want to find the cure
To my growing weakness
And the one who wanders is not lost
My friend
From on top a moorish wall i stand
I see the valley stretching
The mist of seas are pulling in
From your cliff I'm stranded
Embedded in your body deep
Lie answers to the questions
Like a garden hidden from the keep
How long I've waited
Oh my lonely heart
Oh my soulless girl
Will you ever let me go
I don't wanna cry no more
And here I wander aimless
I just want to find the cure
To my growing weakness
To my only weakness
Oh dark mistress, my only salvation
If only to hold you in blessed suspension
Eyes that hold midnight, smile that brings out light
Strange fascination, my only placation
I don't wanna cry no more
And here I wander aimlessly
I just want to find the cure
To this infernal sadness
I don't wanna cry no more
And here I wander aimlessly
I just want to find the cure
To my growing weakness
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| posted by G. @ 10:40 AM |
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| Quick Link |
Check out a quick devotion on Pop's blog.
Coming soon...the Kmax Sticky Fingerz experience!
Look for it. |
| posted by G. @ 10:30 AM |
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| 3.21.2006 |
| Xander's Toybox |
Check out Xander's new customized toybox here.
The decal was done by my cousin Barry. If you need any decal work done he's the one to go to. |
| posted by G. @ 7:19 PM |
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| 3.15.2006 |
| Cleans Dishes and Nails! |
"Much to learn you still have...my old padawan." - Yoda
Ok ladies, I'm a man in case you haven't noticed and being a man means that I lack the ability to decifer the complex code that is women's ACCESSORIES! Women have a more diverse and complex set of tools than any Home Depot. And the thing is...you can't just look at them and tell what they're for.
You take one look at a hammer and say...hmm that's used to hit things.
A screwdriver...screw things (also good for prying things open)
Do you see where I'm going with this. Why do women make things difficult. Clothes for instance. Men have 2 measurments. 1 for the waist and 1 for length. That's it. Women's clothes!!! You need a masters in algebra and if your looking at dresses you need at least a masters in geometry.
Anywho. I usually stop by the house before I pick up the kids, to do some quick house pick up/cleaning. On this day it was dishes. We had home made pizza the night before so the sink was full of dishes caked with lots of pepporoni and sauce. That stuff sticks to everything. Anyway. I open the dishwasher and prepare to start loading it. I usually try to get most of the stuff off before I load the dishes in so I turn the hot water on, grab the shiny new scubbing utensil. "Jenn most have got that when she went to Wal-Mart this weekend." I think to myself. "Works good." That thing worked alot better than those scubbing sponges and it has a cool handle so you don't have to touch it, unlike the sponges that oooze goo when you grab them.
Later that night as we're just hanging in the house I hear Jenn shout from the kitchen..."What did you do with my NAIL BRUSH!!!"
Nail brush? What's a nail br...ooooo that's what that was. Hey it was laying by the sink. What was I supposed to think! Guys...if you saw that thing laying by the sink wouldn't you assume it was used to scrub grime off of pots and pans?
Anyway...just one more tool I've learned about in the endless arsenal of women's accessories. |
| posted by G. @ 6:22 PM |
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| 3.13.2006 |
| A Heartwarming Moment |
"Truly wonderful the mind of a child is." - Yoda
Sunday afternoon Jenn and I were at home with Xander, Haven was at Ninnie's. It was your basic sunday afternoon, just hanging at the house and enjoying our time together. Jenn put Xander in the chair at the dinner table (he doesn't eat from the high chair anymore, he's a big boy)and gave him his lunch with his sippy cup.
So here comes the WOW moment!
Jenn & I were still fixing our lunch and Xander was at the head of the table by himself. Jenn looks up from making her sandwich..."Paul look."
There's Xander hands together in prayer, eyes shut and mumbling unrecognizable words. Then he opens his eyes and looks up as if looking into heaven itself, says a few more words ending in what sounded alot like "amen" then grins and looks at us while applauding himself for a successful prayer.
Wow...Jenn & I just stood there in awe of our precious little boy. He couldn't have impressed us more if he jumped up did cartwhells while reciting the alphabet backwards. I wish I had had a camera at that moment to capture it.
Being a parent is hard sometimes. The day-in day-out drudgery begins to wear on you and you wonder if you're having an impact or making a difference in their little lives. Then God blesses you with a little moment that makes it all worth while. |
| posted by G. @ 10:38 AM |
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| 3.08.2006 |
| Gathering My Thoughts |
"Always in motion the future is." - Yoda
I'm sitting here in bed as I normally do when I post. Converting my inner thoughts to a digital format that anyone can enjoy.
I really want to blog about everything that took place this weekend...
...
...
...
It was a weekend I will not soon forget. A rollercoaster of emotions, a reflection on how we got here and a vision for where we are going.
However. I can't blog about it yet. I want to, but I'm not going to. Not until I can gather my thoughts to properly and purposefully express what I experienced.
Thank you for your patience.
Until then. Here's a great pic. I just love it. It brings back so many memories and promises lots of new ones.
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| posted by G. @ 8:41 PM |
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| 3.01.2006 |
| Character or Actor |
"Characters don't talk back to writers and complain about a story-line (only actors do that)." - Brandon Massey a.ka. 'B'
Ok. So that's not a Star Wars quote, but I don't want people to think that I'm too obsessed with that galaxy far, far away. So I've used a quote from B.
In a recent email exchange between B and I, he made the above statement. It was in reference to some circumstances in his life that currently have him a little off balance.
Now I'm not the great writer that B is. I can't paint that nice illustrated picture of my thoughts the way he can, but I wanted to give it the 'ole Jedi try anyway.
It took all of 2 seconds after reading that line for me to just get slapped with a reality check. Am I a character or an actor. You see, even though B wasn't sure of his current situation, or where it was going, he still maintained that God was in control and he wasn't about to make any changes without His direction. That's character.
Roman 5:3-4
3We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us learn to endure. 4And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.
Develops character.
I can't tell you how many times I've walked away from a movie thinking...man, I wished they'd have spent more time on character development. Typically with out it the movie suffers. You can have a cast full of great actors, but if there's no character development, there's no substance to hold on to.
Actors are just that. They 'Act'. They play the part. If a particular part doesn't interest them, they move on to find one that does.
A character is an intregal part of the story. Whether big or small he/she has a purpose in how the story is told. Throughout the story the character continues to develop as a result of his/her interaction with the story.
An actor may whine and moan about their given role. It's not big enough. Not enough screen time. Too complex. etc.
A character doesn't question the aurthor. He/She accepts their role, wheter it's a bit part, a supporting role, or one of the stars. They are faithful to the aurthor and His plans for them.
Hebrews 12:2
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
God is the Aurthor of this great story that is being told. I don't want to be just another 'Actor' playing a part, manipulating my way to the front of the stage so I can be in the light. I want to be a character that continues to develop under the master storyline that God has written. I want to learn and grow from the experiences that are part of my given role, because when the final curtain is drawn on this act, I want God to look at my 'character' and say..."Well Done." |
| posted by G. @ 10:12 AM |
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| About Me |
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Name: G.
Home: Arkansas, United States
About Me: I have a beautiful wife, Jennifer, who has blessed me with two children. Haven Dawn & Xander Thomas. I'm a Producer/Editor for UAMS (Univ. of Arkansas for Medical Sciences). Go Cowboys!
See my complete profile
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